The Museum of Modern Art Announces Film Lineup

The Museum of Modern Art announces a selection of films and special guests from the 2012 lineup of The Contenders, MoMA's annual end-of-the-year series that offers filmgoers the opportunity to see a wide spectrum of influential and innovative films made within the last 12 months, running October 31, 2012, through January 14, 2013, in The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters (except where noted below).

Selected from major studio releases and top film festivals by curators in the Museum's Department of Film, these films represent the best of mainstream movies, independent foreign-language films, documentaries, and art-house sensations. Now in its fifth year, the highly anticipated series highlights films that are contenders for lasting historical significance, whether bound for awards glory or destined to become a cult classic. Films featured in last year's The Contenders series garnered 64 Oscar nominations. The exhibition is organized by Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator, and Sean Egan, Producer, The Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art.

Opening the series on October 31 at 7:30 p.m. is the U.S. premiere of the 3-D animated feature A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012). A Liar's Autobiography, theatrically released in select theaters and on EPIX on November 2, is about Graham Chapman, probably best remembered as "the dead one from Monty Python," who writes and stars in the animated movie of his own life story. Featuring recordings of Chapman that he made from his book in 1982 matched with audio clips from the present, the film "reunites" members of the Monty Python troupe, and brings Chapman back to life through 17 different animation styles from 15 different animators. The Contenders also includes 3-D presentations of the animated films ParaNorman, directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell, on November 27, and Frankenweenie, directed by Tim Burton, on December 16.